[X3:R] Comprehensive Saitek X52 (not pro) profile for X3 (work in progress)

[Mergelsberg]

First off I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, if it isn't I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Right, to business.
I've been working on a good comprehensive profile for the X52 joystick for use with X3. Right now I'm on my third revision and feeling bold enough to put it online and ask fellow players for their opinion.
I've tried to put in as many useful functions as possible and sort them in Trade/Explore/Combat modes. The whole profile comes with labelled commands, modes and shift-states.

The profile is made in the SD6 version of the programming software. I took SD6 over SD5 because it offers much more flexibility in programming, if you don't have it yet, it's on the Saitek page in the Downloads section.

Speaking of download sections and more getting down to business, the profile and a PDF with the command listing are here:
http://www.krelekamp.net/p/x3/X3-3.rar -- The profile
http://www.krelekamp.net/p/x3/SST%20Profile_%20X3-3.pdf -- The command list.

Some explanation is due here, I suppose.
I set up the 3 modes as inspired on the Star Trek alarm colours.

Green (Mode 1) is Trade Mode.
In Trade Mode all weapons are effectively OFFLINE. The Trigger is bound to Enter and Escape when pinkie-shifted, the Fire button is bound to Open/Close Freight Bay Doors.
Trade Mode is the only mode in which the Best Buy and Best Selling locators are directly available, as well as the Enter and Escape keys. When browsing through targets, Trade mode will browse through Property and Objects. The Property Management screen is also directly available.
In general Trade mode is meant for trading and menu use.

Yellow (Mode 2) is Explore Mode.
In Explore Mode all weapons are available. The first stage of the Trigger will fire a single shot, even if you do not release it. The second stage of the Trigger fires at full auto until released. Pinkie-shift and the first stage of the Trigger will fire a 3 shot burst.
The Fire button now launches missiles; Best Sell Locator is replaced with Missile Select and Best Buy with the Ecliptic Projector. The Property Management Screen is still directly available.
Browsing through targets browses through Objects and Enemies, rather than Property.
Explore Mode is intended for general use when roaming about and puts roughly equal emphasis on combat as on trade commands.

Red (Mode 3) is Combat Mode.
Combat mode forgoes nearly all Trading commands in favour of Combat commands.
The first stage on the trigger defaults to a 3 shot burst (single shot through Pinkie-shift) the second stage remains full auto.
The Property Management Screen is exchanged for Target Nearest Enemy in this mode.
Browsing through Targets is exclusive to Property and Enemies, neutral targets are essentially ignored.

That leaves the commands that are available in ALL modes:
-SETA
-Command Console
-Jumpdrive
-Drone and Wingmen Attack and Protect
-Boost Extension
-Autopilot
-Strafing
-Universe and Sector maps
-Pilot Eject
-Weapon Group selection
-Mouse cursor movement and left mouse button

The only special thing this profile expects from the user is that they set their mouse in X3 to "show cursor when mouse is moved" and disable mouse steering.

Right, I think that covers it all. If I've forgotten about something dreadfully important please let me know so I can add it to my to-do list. There is still quite some button real-estate left, so I'm looking for ideas to fill that up with.

A few things that are already cooking up in my head:
-Setting the Precision Slider to act as a zoom slider with the Video Enhancement Goggles
-Setting the Throttle to use the Bonus Pack Afterburner when passing the top indentation (if it doesn't already, haven't tested this yet)

Anyway, I hope people will want to help me test this and make it into the most comprehensive X3 profile for the X52.

[pozo]

Hey there, I'm using your profile

I just got my X52 today so I'm still getting a bit used to it (so many buttons...).

One small suggestion: on my system (Vista 32b running latest drivers & beta SST) the profile uses 50% of my processing power (one core) due to the fact that you've used an advanced keypress in stead of a macro with the weapon selection dial. Setting it as a 'new macro' with just (eg) keypress [1] instead of [1 down] [1 up] fixes it.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that I have a pro-stick and have converted your profile with the "X52 to X52 Pro Profile Converter". More ppl on the Saitek forum seem to have similar issues.

Furthermore I'd like a 'target what your ship's pointing at' button in all modes, although I do not even know wheter X3 supports that actually.

And finally:
Thanks for the profile!

[natha]

I have the same issue with the profile i use (system process consumes 50% cpu) and yes its the rotary that cause it.
But that happens with the new SD6 software as i had the same keypresses with the old software (i remade my profile as it wasn't compatible) and none of this problems (and also i had the booster/brake to zero to the small rotary)

[Wubinator]

I'm at work now so I can't test it, but could this work on a Saitek X45?

[pozo]

I'm at work now so I can't test it, but could this work on a Saitek X45?

I hope Wubinator isn't a reference to mr. Wubbo Ockels

But at you question: I don't really think so. The x52 has 4 buttons on the stick (including fire) and two + a hat switch on the throttle. Those are all used, so from what I can see on the images of the x45 you're two buttons and a hat swtich short. Those buttons you can probably do without as the pinky-shift mode is currently the same for all 3 modes (ie all shifted buttons A-E do the same in mode 1-3) so you could overload those to make the profile more complete. You're not going to need 'jumpdrive toggle' in combat mode for instance.

The missing hat switch is more 'of a problem' as it's used for strafing.

Furthermore four the toggle switches are used for trivial functions so you won't really miss those.


And finally: this is all assuming your profile editor will even accept the x52 profile, you might have to do it all by hand...

I have the same issue with the profile i use (system process consumes 50% cpu) and yes its the rotary that cause it.
But that happens with the new SD6 software as i had the same keypresses with the old software (i remade my profile as it wasn't compatible) and none of this problems (and also i had the booster/brake to zero to the small rotary)

Have you tried making macro's of it? So not ticking the 'macro' box with your advanced keypress, but actually clearing the current binding, right click, new macro and then record it. Worked fine for me!

[Wubinator]

No I'm not even really sure where it is based on a older kid gave me the name Wub when I was 12 years old. Never knew him, never even saw him before. But the name kinda stuck. Later when I started playing FPS games I mixed it with Terminator to get Wubinator. Now almost 14 years later I still use the nickname all the time and everywhere

Later I thought it was based on those furry balls with stick on eyes and feet. Those are called wup (see below for a picture).... [ external image ]

I have no idea why that older kid would call me a name base on those things, but it is the only thing that sounds the same. And it is not exactly a common word.But I'm not quite sure.

Ontopic:

X45 stick has a fire button, a pinky button, a button on the front of the stick. Two hat switches on top and 3 buttons between the hat switches (1 under a safety cap).

The throttle has 1 hat switch, a rudder button/buttons. Two extra buttons and something that can be used as a mouse in windows or a 4way hat switch (although not that accurate). And two wheels. And ofcourse the 3 modes and 3 way Aux settings.

So I think don't really think I miss buttons. But I think the profile won't be accepted indeed. Won't know until I'm home and try it

@Mergelsberg could you explain how use setup the buttons. Maybe mail / PM me about it or something? I'm still looking for a good profile for X3

[natha]

Have you tried making macro's of it? So not ticking the 'macro' box with your advanced keypress, but actually clearing the current binding, right click, new macro and then record it. Worked fine for me!

Worked like charm! .... Ecxellent pozo, thanks.

You need the "SST programming software" besides the drivers to program the stick Wubinator. Open the profile editor and start playing around. Its quite easy i think if you know the game controls and what keys you need on the stick.

[Mergelsberg]

Thanks for the responses guys

One small suggestion: on my system (Vista 32b running latest drivers & beta SST) the profile uses 50% of my processing power (one core) due to the fact that you've used an advanced keypress in stead of a macro with the weapon selection dial. Setting it as a 'new macro' with just (eg) keypress [1] instead of [1 down] [1 up] fixes it.
. . .
Furthermore I'd like a 'target what your ship's pointing at' button in all modes, although I do not even know wheter X3 supports that actually.

I did it this way because without the explicit key-up it would leave the key to stick for me. So rather than just press it once it would be like it was kept pressed all the time.
I run the Steam version on XP64 though, so there might be differences with this for other combo's. I'll look into it to see if I can find a solution that works for us all.

As far as I've been able to find there is no "target object under reticle" command, though I may have overlooked it.

Wub, I think you'd be 1 button short on the stick and then the toggles. So all in all not a really massive difference.


I've been fiddeling about with the Toggle switches and been looking at some scripts that add hotkeys for things like drone deployment.
I was thinking about fitting in buttons for cycling through the camera's and turrets on those.

[DeathVark]

Just stumbled across your profile
Getting my X52 2morrow, can't wait to try it out. Anything new been developed?
Also, small question: do I need to copy this profile into the one of the games folders and then chose it from within the game? Sorry, it may be selfexplanatory once I install teh software from Saitek, but I thought i'd ask
Thanks!

[warlock_ba]

does it work with the SD6 profiler from Saitek? Or is it still for the old one?

cheers,
meh

allthough i play X3 without any profile with the X52 (not pro). it's way nicer i think.

[DeathVark]

The profile is made in the SD6 version of the programming software. I took SD6 over SD5 because it offers much more flexibility in programming, if you don't have it yet, it's on the Saitek page in the Downloads section.

.

[Wandering Panther]

-Setting the Precision Slider to act as a zoom slider with the Video Enhancement Goggles
-Setting the Throttle to use the Bonus Pack Afterburner when passing the top indentation (if it doesn't already, haven't tested this yet)

Does this mean you can get X3 to use the throttle as a throttle? (rather than it taking the presicion slide as the throttle).

Could you explain how you did this, as no matter how many options I change in X3 I can not get it to work this way . Previously I had to settle for deselecting the throttle in the controls menu and setting the X52 throttle to bands. I have tried your profile and it does not enable the main throttle for me.

All help appreciated.

Nick

[DeathVark]

Profile worked fine for me. You need to UNcheck "use joystick throttle" in the very first screen when loading X3 ( under input device) - it seems like you've done that, just wanted to make sure you did that not from inside the game, but rather before loading it.

[Wandering Panther]

Thanks muchly... though I'm slightly miffed I never spotted that

[illicit]

Nice profile. I have made it my own. Thanks for the UP.

[DeathVark]

I love this profile, made some modifications, but it was so much easier to work with full profile, than to make one from scratch.
Glad I could help

[ShadeFoster]

I am using SD6 have the profile activated and so on, I am having two problems as of now The Screen "pauses" when I pull the trigger or use some of the other buttons and after a while the input goes dead ... Also I think that not all functions are operating properly but as to the other issues it is not easy to tell at this time.

Thank you for this profile and I hope that this is all rather easy to resolve, I am guessing that the issue is with my lack experience with this game and this controller and not with the profile its self.

Thank you for reading and a hopefully swift response.

Update: The Pausing seems to be a key repeat fault which Buttons should I -Ignorejoy with this profile ? Also I felt I should say that none of these issues have happened without this profile.

[DeathVark]

I am using SD6 have the profile activated and so on, I am having two problems as of now The Screen "pauses" when I pull the trigger or use some of the other buttons and after a while the input goes dead ... Also I think that not all functions are operating properly but as to the other issues it is not easy to tell at this time.

Thank you for this profile and I hope that this is all rather easy to resolve, I am guessing that the issue is with my lack experience with this game and this controller and not with the profile its self.

Thank you for reading and a hopefully swift response.

Update: The Pausing seems to be a key repeat fault which Buttons should I -Ignorejoy with this profile ? Also I felt I should say that none of these issues have happened without this profile.

What concerns the functios - have you read the teh readme file and the post itself?
Don't forget, it has 3 modes trade,explorer and fight (switched by the rotator next to the Fire A button, and EACH of those as well have ALT functions (you need to press and hold the pinky switch for the ALT function) and those functions may be different between 3 modes.
For instance: pressing fire D (on throttle) will activate the Boost, but pressing it while pressing pinky switch will activate Jumpdrive, and so on.

Concerning pausing - it has to do with music acceleration iirc, let me see where you change that. I had that problem firing my lasers : just keep firing them in auto mode, than you stop, but the sound is still going on, trying to catch up.
I'll check when I get back home.

[ShadeFoster]

Thank you Vark. First as far as the modes Go I have only been using the Combat mode/mode 3. I have been only playing in the combat sim as to get used to the game. I wanted to play these "Tutorials" before I dived into the main game its self do to everything I had read about the learning curve. I have read the read me file and all the post here also browsed through other post ( that is how I found out about rapid keying and checking no throttle to get the throttle to work).

When I am firing with this profile loaded the screen freezes sound as well and comes back when the trigger is released, this does not happen if I do not use this profile. After a while of this the trigger and most of the other buttons become non responsive. do to this I have not yet been able to really play or enjoy this game let alone feel out the profile.

I am guessing that this should be resolved with -ignorejoy # but am unsure as to what to ignore. as far it being sound I am not sure that this is the fault do to the problem only repeating with this profile loaded.

Thank you very much for all of your responces Vark you are a great help.

[DeathVark]

Found what yo need to do:
Start->Run-> type in DXDIAG, direct X diag will pop-up, you will see 3 tabs: Sound1, sound2 and sound 3. Click each one of them and you see they have Hardware Sound acceleration level slider. All I had to do, is to turn the last one (sound3) to Standard , instead of Full. Your system may be different, but try that first. If it doesn't help, play with them, turn on of them completely off, restart the game etc.
I usually don't use the combat mode, in combat I use Explorer - better energy management - no 3-shot bursts, like in combat.
Also, read through the thread about changing weapons macros - so they don't use all the resources.